Saturday, July 26, 2008

For two days last week, many of the men’s bathrooms at the Westin St. Francis Hotel here were turned into women’s bathrooms. The stalls on the second floor were lined with note cards featuring nurturing messages like “You are perfect.” Nearby, women were being dusted with blush and eye shadow, or having the kinks in their necks massaged.

There was a lactation room, child care, and onesies for sale emblazoned with the words “my mom is blogging this.” No doubt they were.

The premise of the article is that people don't take women bloggers seriously. Well, NO SHIT. You are being dusted with eye shadow and you have "nurturing messages" on the walls of your conference, lady bloggers. Figure it out.

WOMEN: what are we going to do with you?

Posted by
Decorno

42 comments:

Anonymous
said...

That is just upsetting to me, reading a card that says "You are perfect" while you are taking a dump.

Lol, this cracks me up. I love that you're showing another side to this blogging conference I've been hearing so much about. I'm a bad girl. I probably would have written my own "affirmation" on that card. Oh the possibilities...

The fabulous Petunia Face went to this, and posted about it. Maybe you already said that. Sorry, I'm just skimming. I hate that fucking name BlogHer. Yuk. This event is awful, and I feel bad for the great women who attended. I like men, but who cares if they read (hence fucking validate them?) our blogs? WE read them; WE like them; WE support one another. I saw this in The Times and thought about posting it, but I was busy puking. I'm glad you did it. Maybe you can write them one of your famous letters: Dear BlogHer you suck. If we want to get together, just pick a place and start mixing the cocktails. And leave out the holy roller blogosphere shit.

I did! I have been eagerly waiting for her recap. Though I don't know whether she will feel okay skewering it or not, cause isn't she blog buddies with one of the ringleaders? Mrs. Kennedy or whoever? The one who invited her to speak? But we shall see...

Mommy blogging is fine by me. If mommy bloggers expect an audience, then they need to punch up the funny or informational or whatever. Some people mommy-blog because it's an easy way to post photos and make observations for the benefit of relatives, etc. Great. I don't think most mommy bloggers are expecting to become famous for it.

I guess what I would be interested to know about this conference is which bloggers, exactly, were there, and what did they get out of the conference?

I also enjoy that the only "serious" blogger (the economist) that the Times quoted wasn't even at the conference. The economist probably decided to save her $300 and stay home.

The problem I have with the NY Times article is that I suspect there was a lot more to that conference than dippy messages and massages, but that's what they chose to focus on. But I don't know, I wasn't there.

Maria, do you really need it explained to you? The women aren't paying money to go and pump milk in a lactation room. They are there for the conference and all of the events - the lactation rooms are to use if you need to nurse your baby or, if you are attending without your baby but are still lactating, you can go pump so your tits don't explode.

Maria - please clarify - your point is that you don't want to walk into a room with breast pumps? The room would have a sign on the door and your abiliy to read would preclude you from seeing something you didn't want to see. It is not like it is some pumpotorium with machines at every electrical outlet, women would bring and use their own if they needed to.

Probably it's the phrasing of the Times reporter--"lactation room"--that is the most objectionable thing. Like something from "The Handmaid's Tale." The idea, on the other hand, is sensible and compassionate, especially for a conference that draws a lot of women of child-bearing age.

"The Handmaiden's Tale" - I'm dying laughing! I'm glad I'm not the only one who read this and thought "UGH." I'm also really glad I'm not lactating. The only thing that appealed to me was that Heather Armstrong spoke, and I'd love to see that.

For those of us who are childless and hope to keep it that way, the thought of having to sit through Mommy Blog meetings sounds more unbearable as attending a baby shower without alcohol. Oh wait,nevermind, nothing is more unbearable than that. Well, being in a wedding is right up there too...but I digress.

I also thought it sucked that the article did not mention one single design blog, an area of blogging where women dominate.

Wow Maria, you make no fucking sense. First your point is "why would people pay to go and pump breast milk" then your point is you don't want to see people nursing/pumping " it's such a personal thing." {yet you are upset about a semi-private room for said activity} and now you state that you "would be personally offended if they handed out entry cards that had this check box included: do you have your breast pump with you."

Do you actually think this is something that would occur? That upon entry to a conference you would be given a form and questioned about the state of your tits and whether you brought along one of the least fun mechanically-powered devices that you will ever use on your body? Women are just trying to feed their kids.

Just admit that you don't know what the fuck you are talking about. Don't keep coming up with some other point claiming it was your original point.

I'm a mom, I blog, my blog isn't a mommyblog. And guess what? Just b/c you chose to have kids doesn't automatically make you an idiot!

And I nursed both my kids and having a private place(again a room you wouldn't accidentally walk into if you know how to read) to nurse is something to applaud not really to be grossed out by - are you 12? If you've never nursed you really shouldn't comment on that in my opinion. The misogyny w/some of these posts is a bit odd to me. I would bet that the Blogher conference had some positive things to offer. I agree with Mary T. - the times article did make it sound like a place I wouldn't have wanted to be, but did anyone posting here ACTUALLY go to Blogher? I didn't, so I feel like I can truly only comment upon how it was "covered" in the times.

check out the mommy blog design mom - your wrong they do want a fortune - they just want to stay home and make it - shes had trips all over the damn place and plugs companies daily even got herself and daughter on martha to do a craft - not to mention selling the ads and with a generic google search easy to see her audition tape....... they all want to make money -

I think that the crazy anonymous blogger who is getting way too excited about lactation rooms should maybe just take a step back and realise that maria is JUST BEING FUNNY.

I mean - yes, 'lactation rooms' are probably very helpful or whatever but seriously.... they sound AWFUL! I don't know why just plain old 'powder room' or 'parent's room' or something a little less... well... gross... couldn't have been used!

Keep it up tho please anon! There's nothing more amusing then when a commentor starts taking things too seriously!